THE DELHI LAND HOLDINGS (CEILING) ACT, 1960 

__________ 

ARRANGEMENT OF SECTIONS 

________ 

CHAPTER I 

PRELIMINARY 

SECTIONS 

1. Short title, extent and commencement. 

2. Definition.  

CEILING ON HOLDINGS AND VESTING AND ALLOTMENT OF EXCESS LAND 

CHAPTER II 

3. Ceiling on holding. 

4. Submission of returns.  

5. Collection of information through other agency. 

6. Procedure for determination of excess land. 

7. Selection of excess land in cases of certain transfers. 

7A. Abatement of certain suits. 

8. Excess land to vest in Government. 

9. Publication of the final list and consequences thereof. 

10. Compensation. 

11. Manner of payment of amount. 

12. Limit of future acquisition of land. 

13. Excess land not to be surrendered in certain cases. 

14. Power of Deputy Commissioner to take possession of excess land. 

15. Reservation of land for certain purposes. 

16. Allotment of excess land. 

CHAPTER III 

MISCELLANEOUS 

17. Act to override contract and other laws. 

18. Mode of recovery of any amount due under the Act. 

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SECTIONS 

19. Appeal. 

20. Revision. 

21. Power of officers while holding inquiries, etc., under the Act. 

22. Entry upon land for purposes of survey, etc. 

23. Offences and penalties. 

24. Finality of orders and bar of jurisdiction. 

25. Protection of action taken under the Act. 

26. [Omitted.] 

27. Power to make rules. 

28. [Repealed.] 

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THE DELHI LAND HOLDINGS (CEILING) ACT, 1960 

ACT NO. 24 OF 1960 

An Act to provide for the imposition of a ceiling on land holdings in the Union territory of Delhi 

and for matters connected therewith. 

BE it enacted by Parliament in the Eleventh Year of the Republic of India as follows:― 

[26th August, 1960.] 

CHAPTER I 

PRELIMINARY 

1.  Short  title,  extent  and  commencement.―(1)  This  Act  may  be  called  the  Delhi  Land  Holdings 

(Ceiling) Act, 1960. 

(2) It extends to the whole of the Union territory of Delhi, but shall not apply to― 

(a)  the  areas  which,  immediately  before  the  1st  day  of  November,  1956,  were  included  in  a 
municipality or in a notified area under the provisions of the Punjab Municipal Act, 1911(Punjab Act 
3 of 1911), or in a cantonment under the provisions of the Cantonments Act, 1924 (2 of 1924); 

(b) the areas 1[owned and held by the Central Government or any State Government]or any local 

authority; 2*** 

3[(bb)  the  areas  owned  and  held  by  any  corporation  owned  or  controlled  by  the  Central 

Government;] 

4[(c) the areas acquired under any law relating to the acquisition of land for a public purpose; 

(d)  the  areas  held  and  occupied,  on  the  appointed  day,  for  the  purpose  of  a  goshala  or  for  the 
purpose  of  breeding,  or  feeding,  or  both,  of  horses,  and,  in  either  case,  declared  as  such  in  the 
prescribed manner by the Chief Commissioner: 

Provided  that,  no  declaration  under  this  clause  shall  be  made  by  the  Chief  Commissioner  in 
respect  of  an  area  held  and  occupied  for  the  purpose  of  a  goshala  unless  the  goshala  has  been 
established for a charitable purpose without any motive for profit and registered as a society under the 
Societies Registration Act, 1860 (21 of 1860) and the entire income from such area is utilised for the 
purpose of the goshala: 

Provided further that, when any area or any part thereof ceases to be held and occupied for the 
purpose referred to in this clause any declaration made under this clause, shall cease to have effect 
either in whole or in part, as the case may be, and the provisions of this Act shall apply to the whole 
or part of such area accordingly; and  

(e) the areas owned and held by any agricultural co-operative land mortgage bank, any State or 

Central Co-operative Bank or any other bank. 

1. Subs. by Act 15 of 1976, s. 2, for “owned by the Central Government” (w.e.f. 8-12-1975). 
2. The word “and” omitted by s. 2, ibid. (w.e.f. 8-12-1975). 
3. Ins. by s. 2, ibid. (w.e.f. 8-12-1975). 
4. Subs. by s. 2, ibid., for clause (c) (w.e.f. 8-12-1975). 

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Explanation.―For  the  purpose  of  this  clause,  “bank”  means  a  banking  company  as  defined  in 
section  5  of  the  Banking  Regulation  Act,  1949  (10  of  1949)  and  includes  the  State  Bank  of  India 
constituted under the State Bank of India Act, 1955 (23 of 1955), a subsidiary bank as defined in the 
State Bank of India (Subsidiary Banks) Act, 1959 (38 of 1959), a corresponding new bank as defined 
in the Banking Companies (Acquisition and Transfer of Undertakings) Act, 1970 (5 of 1970) and the 
Agricultural  Refinance  Corporation  established  under  the  Agricultural  Refinance  Corporation  Act, 
1963 (10 of 1963)]. 

(3)  It  shall  come  into  force  on  such  date  as  the  Chief  Commissioner  may,  by  notification  in  the 

Official Gazette, appoint. 

2. Definitions.―In this Act, unless the context otherwise requires,― 

1[(a) “appointed day” means the 24th day of January, 1971;] 

2[(aa)] “ceiling limit”, in relation to land, means the limit fixed under section 3; 

(b) “Chief Commissioner” means the Chief Commissioner of Delhi; 

(c) “competent authority” means any person or authority authorised by the Chief Commissioner 
by notification in the Official Gazette to perform the functions of the competent authority under this 
Act for such area as may be specified in the notification; 

3[(d) “family”, in relation to a person, means the person, the wife or husband, as the case may be, 

and the minor sons and unmarried minor daughters of such person;] 

(e)  “minor”  means  a  person  who  is  deemed  not  to  have  attained  majority  under  the  Indian 

Majority Act, 1875; 

4[(ee) “orchard” means a compact area of land, having fruit bearing trees grown thereon in such 
number that they preclude or when fully grown, would preclude, a substantial part of such land from 
being  used  for  any  agricultural  purpose,  but  does  not  include  any  land,  being  a  banana  or  guava 
garden or vine yard; 

(eee)  “person”  includes  a  company,  family,  association  or  other  body  of  individuals,  whether 

incorporated or not, and any institution capable of holding property;] 

(f) “person under disability” means― 

(i) a widow; 

(ii) a minor; 

(iii) a woman unmarried or, if married, divorced or judicially separated from her husband or 

whose husband is a person falling under sub-clause (iv) or sub-clause (v); 

(iv) a member of the Armed Forces of the Union; 

(v) a person incapable of cultivating land by reason of some physical or mental disability; 

(g) “prescribed” means prescribed by rules made under this Act; 

1. Ins. by Act 15 of 1976, s. 3 (w.e.f. 8-12-1975).  
2. Clause (a) re-lettered as clause (aa) by s. 3, ibid. (w.e.f. 8-12-1975). 
3. Subs. by s. 3, ibid., for clause (d) (w.e.f. 8-12-1975). 
4. Ins. by s. 3, ibid. (w.e.f. 8-12-1975). 

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(h)  the  words  and  expressions  “Asami”,  “Bhumidhar”,  “Deputy  Commissioner”,  “Gaon 
Panchayat”, “improvement”, “land” 1*** and “village” shall have the meanings respectively assigned 
to them in the Delhi Land Reforms Act, 1954 (Delhi Act 8 1954). 

CHAPTER II 

CEILING ON HOLDINGS AND VESTING AND ALLOTMENT OF EXCESS LAND 

2[3.  Ceiling  on  holding.―(1)  Subject  to  the  provisions  of  this  section,  on  and  from  the 
commencement of the Delhi Land Holdings (Ceiling) Amendment Act, 1976, no person either by himself 
or, if he has a family, together with any other member of his family (hereinafter referred to as the person 
representing the family) shall, whether as a Bhumidhar or an Asami or partly in one capacity and partly in 
another, be entitled to hold land in excess of― 

(a) (i) 7.25 hectares, in the case of land which is assured of irrigation from a private source of 

irrigation and is capable of yielding at least two crops in a year; or  

(ii) 5.8 hectares, in the case of land which is assured of irrigation from a Government source of 

irrigation and is capable of yielding at least two crops in a year; or  

(b) (i) 10.9 hectares, in the case of land which is assured of irrigation from a private source of 

irrigation and is capable of yielding at least one crop in a year; or  

(ii) 8.7 hectares, in the case of land which is assured of irrigation from a Government source of 

irrigation and is capable of yielding at least one crop in a year; or  

(c) 21.8 hectares, in the case of any other land, including an orchard.  

(2) Where a person holds land falling under more than one category specified in sub-section (1), then, 
the land held by him shall be converted into land falling under category (c) and for the purpose of such 
conversion one hectare of land falling under category (a) (i) shall be treated as equal to 3 hectares of land 
falling under category (c), one hectare of land falling under category (a) (ii) shall be treated as equal to 
3.75 hectares of land falling under category (c), one hectare of land falling under category (b) (i) shall be 
treated  as  equal  to  2  hectares  of  land  falling  under  category  (c)  and  one  hectare  of  land  falling  under 
category (b) (ii) shall be treated as equal to 2.5 hectares of land falling under category (c); and the extent 
of the land so converted together with the extent of the land, if any falling under category (c) held by such 
person shall not exceed 21.8 hectares. 

 (3) For the purposes of this section, land which is assured of irrigation from a Government source of 

irrigation means any land which is irrigated, or is capable of being irrigated, from such source.  

(4) If any question whether any land is capable of yielding only one crop or more than one crop in a 
year arises, such question shall be decided by such authority and in such manner as may be prescribed and 
the decision of such authority thereon shall be final. 

(5) Where the number of members of the family of a person exceeds five, he shall he entitled to hold 
land in excess of the ceiling limit to the extent of one-fifth of the ceiling limit for each member in excess 
of five; so, however, as not to exceed twice the ceiling limit in the aggregate.  

(6) where a person is a member of a family the land held by such person together with the land held 
by  every  other  member  of  the  family,  whether  individually  or  jointly,  shall  be  taken  into  account  in 
determining the ceiling limit.  

1. The words „, “standard acre” ‟ omitted by Act 15 of 1976, s. 3 (w.e.f. 8-12-1975). 
2. Subs. by s. 4, ibid., for section 3 (w.e.f. 8-12-1975). 

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(7) A person representing a family shall also be entitled to hold land not exceeding the ceiling limit 

for each of his major sons, if any: 

Provided that the land, if any, held by such major son or, if he has a family, by any other member of 
his family shall be taken into account in determining the ceiling limit for the purposes of this sub-section. 

(8) Where a family holds land in excess of the ceiling limit and such land includes land held by the 
wife or the husband, then, the share of the wife or the husband, as the case may he, in the land that may be 
held by the family within the ceiling limit shall be in the same proportion as it was in the total extent of 
the land held by the family. 

(9) Where a person is a member of a registered co-operative farming society his share in the land held 

by such society shall be taken into account in calculating the ceiling limit in relation to such person.] 

4. Submission of returns.―Every person representing a family 1[who on the appointed day or at any 
time thereafter held or holds,] land in excess of the ceiling limit shall submit to the competent authority, 
in such form and within such time as may be prescribed, a return giving the particulars of all land held by 
him and indicating therein the parcels of land, not exceeding the ceiling limit, which he desires to retain: 

Provided that in the case of a joint holding, all co-sharers may submit the return jointly indicating the 

parcels of land, not exceeding the aggregate of their individual ceiling limits, which they desire to retain. 

Explanation.―In the case of a person under disability, the return shall be furnished by his guardian or 

authorised agent, as the case may be. 

5. Collection of information through other agency.―If any person, who under section 4 is required 
to submit a return, fails to do so in accordance with the provisions of that section, the competent authority 
shall collect the necessary information through such agency as may be prescribed. 

6.  Procedure  for  determination  of  excess  land.―(1)  On  receipt  of  any  return  under  section  4  or 
information under section 5 or otherwise, the competent authority shell, after giving the persons affected 
an opportunity of being heard, hold an inquiry in such manner as may be prescribed, and having regard to 
the  provisions  of  section  7  and  section  8  or  of  any  rules  that  may  be  made  in  this  behalf,  it  shall 
determine― 

(a) the total area of land held by each person representing the family; 

(b) the specific parcels of land which he may retain; 

(c) the land held by him in excess of the ceiling limit; 

(d) whether such excess land is held by him as a Bhumidhar or as an Asami; 

(e) the excess land in respect of which Bhumidhari rights may be acquired by an Asami; 

(f) the excess land which may be restored to a Bhumidhar; 

(g) the excess land which shall vest in the Government; and 

(h) such other matters as may be prescribed. 

2[(2) For the purpose of determining the excess land under this section any land transferred by sale, 
gift or otherwise (other than a  bona fide sale under a registered deed for valuable consideration)  at any 
time  during  the  period  between  the  appointed  day  and  the  commencement  of  the  Delhi  Land  Holdings 

1. Subs. by Act 15 of 1976, s. 5, for certain words  (w.e.f. 8-12-1975). 
2. Subs. by s. 6, ibid., for sub-section (2) (w.e.f. 8-12-1975). 

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(Ceiling)  Amendment  Act,  1976,  shall,  notwithstanding  such  transfer,  be  deemed  to  be  held  by  the 
transferor and the burden of proving the transfer by sale as bona fide shall be on the transferor.  

(3)  The  competent  authority  shall  prepare  a  list  in  the  prescribed  form  containing  the  particulars 
determined by him under sub-section (1) and shall cause every such list to be published in the Official 
Gazette and also in such other manner as may be prescribed.] 

1[7.  Selection  of  excess  land  in  cases  of  certain  transfers.―(1)    Where  any  person  transfers  any 
land  by  sale,  gift  or  otherwise  (other  than  a  bona  fide  sale  under  a  registered  deed  for  valuable 
consideration) at any time during the period referred to in sub-section (2) of section 6, the excess land in 
relation to such person shall be selected from out of the land held by him after such transfer and in case 
the  entire  excess  land  cannot  be  so  selected,  the  balance,  or,  where  no  land  is  held  by  him  after  the 
transfer, the entire excess land, shall be selected out of the land held by the transferee: 

Provided that where such person has transferred his land to more than one person, the balance or the 
entire excess land, as the case may be, shall be selected out of the land held by each of the transferees in 
the same proportion as the area of the land transferred to him bears to the total area of the land transferred 
to all the transferees.  

(2) Where any excess land is selected out of the land transferred, the transfer of such land shall be 

void.  

7A. Abatement of certain suits.―Notwithstanding anything contained in any other law, every  suit 
for the specific performance of a contract for the transfer of land, instituted after the appointed day and 
before the commencement of the Delhi Land Holdings (Ceiling) Amendment Act, 1976 shall abate and no 
suit for the specific performance of any such contract entered into before such commencement shall be 
maintainable.]  

8. Excess land to vest in Government.―(1) Where any excess land of a Bhumidhar is in his actual 

possession, the excess land shall vest in the Government. 

(2) Where any excess land of a Bhumidhar is in the possession of a person holding the same as an 
Asami and the excess land together with any other land held by such person exceeds his ceiling limit, the 
land in excess of the ceiling limit shall vest in the Government. 

(3) Where any excess land of a Bhumidhar is in the possession of a person holding the same as an 
Asami and such person is allowed to retain the excess land or a part thereof as being within his ceiling 
limit,  that  parson  shall  acquire  Bhumidhari  rights  in  respect  of  such  excess  land  or  part  thereof  on 
payment of compensation as hereinafter provided, but if that person refuses to pay such compensation, the 
excess land or part thereof shall vest in the Government. 

(4) Where there is any excess land of an Asami, the excess land shall vest in the Government: 
Provided  that  in  any  case  where  the  excess  land  or  any  part  thereof  held  by  a  Bhumidhar  together 
with any other land held by such person does not exceed the ceiling limit, the excess land or such part 
thereof as does not exceed the ceiling limit shall be restored to the Bhumidhar on an application made by 
him in this behalf to the competent authority within such time as may be prescribed. 

9. Publication of the final list and consequences thereof.―(1) Any person aggrieved by an entry in 
the list published under sub-section (3) of section 6 may, within thirty days from the date of publication 
thereof in the Official Gazette, file objections thereto before the Deputy Commissioner: 

1. Subs. by Act 15 of  1976, s. 7,  for section 7 (w.e.f. 8-12-1975). 
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Provided that the Deputy Commissioner may entertain the objection after the expiry of the said period 
of  thirty  days,  if  he  is  satisfied  that  the  objector  was  prevented  by  sufficient  cause  from  filing  the 
objection in time. 

(2)  The  Deputy  Commissioner  or  any  other  officer  authorised  in  this  behalf  by  the  Chief 
Commissioner may, after considering the objections and after giving the objector or his representatives an 
opportunity of being heard in the matter, approve or modify the list 

(3)  The  list  as  approved  or  modified  under  sub-section  (2)  shall  then  be  published  in  the  Official 
Gazette and also in such other manner as may be prescribed and, subject to the provisions of this Act, the 
list shall be final. 

(4)  With  effect  from  the  date  of  the  publication  of  the  list  in  the  Official  Gazette  under                           

sub-section  (3),  the  excess  land  shall  stand  transferred  to,  and  vest  in,  the  Government  free  of  all 
encumbrances  or,  as  the  case  may  be,  the  excess  land  shall  stand  restored  to  the  Bhumidhar  or  the 
Bhumidhari  rights  in  respect  of  the  excess  land  shall  stand  transferred  to  the  Asami  free  of  all 
encumbrances. 

10.  Compensation.―1[(1)  Where  any  excess  land  of  a  Bhumidhar  vests  in  the  Government,  there 
shall be paid by the Government to the Bhumidhar an amount calculated at the rates specified in the Table 
below, namely:― 

_____________________________________________________________________________________ 

THE TABLE 

Class of land 

(a) Land under assured irrigation and capable of 

yielding at least two crops in a year 

Rates per hectare in rupees 

 For the first 3 
hectares 
5,000 

For the next 3 
hectares 
4,400 

For the 
remaining area 
4,000 

(b) Land under assured irrigation and capable of 

2,500 

2,200 

2,000 

yielding at least one crop in a year 
(c) Any other land (including an orchard) 

1,250 
 Provided  that  where  such  excess  land  or  any  part  thereof  is  in  the  possession  of  an  Asami,  the 
amount payable in respect of the land shall be apportioned between the Bhumidhar and the Asami in such 
proportion as may be determined by the competent authority in the prescribed manner, having regard to 
their respective shares in the net income from such land to be determined by the competent authority in 
the prescribed manner. 

1,000 

1,100 

 (2) In addition to the amount payable in respect of any excess land under sub-section (1), there shall 
also  be  paid  an  amount  in  respect  of  any  structure  or  building,  including  wells,  tube-wells  and 
embankments  constructed  on  such  excess  land  and  such  amount  shall  be  fifty  per  cent.  of  the  market 
value of such structure or building and shall be paid to the person who has constructed the structure or 
building.] 

 (3) Where any excess land in respect of which 2[an amount] is payable is subject to any mortgage or 
other encumbrance, the amount due under the mortgage or other encumbrance in respect of such excess 
land, or where a transfer in respect of excess land is void by virtue of  3[sub-section (2) of section 7], the 

1. Subs. by Act 15 of 1976, s. 8, for sub-sections (1) and (2) (w.e.f. 8-12-1975). 
2. Subs. by s. 8, ibid., for “compensation” (w.e.f. 8-12-1975). 
3. Subs. by s. 8, ibid., for “sub-section (4) of section 7” (w.e.f. 8-12-1975). 

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consideration  money  paid  by  the  transferee  in  respect  of  such  excess  land,  shall  be  a  charge  on  the 
1[amount]  payable  in  respect  of  the  excess  land  to  the  person  who  has  created  the  mortgage  or 
encumbrance or, as the case may be, to the transferor. 

(4) Where an Asami acquires Bhumidhari rights in respect of any excess land,  2[the amount] payable 
by him in respect of that land shall be equal to the amount which the Bhumidhar would have been paid 
3*** under the proviso to sub-section (1) or sub-section (2), if the land had vested in the Government; and 
the  amount  shall,  in  the  first  instance,  be  paid  to  the  Bhumidhar  by  the  Government  and  shall  be 
recovered from the Asami in such manner as may be prescribed 

(5)  Where  any  excess  land  of  a  religious  or  charitable  institution  vests  in  the  Government  such 
institution  shall,  in  lieu  of  1[the  amount]  payable  under  sub-section  (1)  or  sub-section  (2)  be  paid  an 
annuity equal to the net annual income of the excess land and such net annual income shall be determined 
by the competent authority in the prescribed manner. 

(6) The competent authority shall, after holding an inquiry in the prescribed manner, make an order 

determining the amount 4*** payable to any person under this section. 

11. Manner of payment of amount.―(1) The  5[amount] payable under section 10 shall be due on 
the date of the publication of the list in the Official Gazette under sub-section (3) of section 9 and may be 
paid in cash, in a lump sum or in instalments or in bonds. 

(2) Where the 5[amount] is payable in bonds, the bonds may be made not transferable or transferable 
by  endorsement  or  in  any  other  manner  but  all  such  bonds  shall  be  redeemed  within  such  period,  not 
exceeding ten years from the date of issue, as may be prescribed. 

(3)  Where  there  is  any  delay  in  the  payment  of  5[amount]  or  where  the  5[amount]  is  paid  either  in 
instalments or in bonds, it shall carry interest at the rate of two and a half per cent. per annum from the 
date on which it falls due. 

12.  Limit  of  future  acquisition  of  land.―No  person  representing  a  family  shall  acquire  in  any 
manner whatsoever whether by transfer, exchange, lease, agreement or succession any land where such 
acquisition has the effect of making the total area of the land held by him exceed the ceiling limit; and any 
such land in excess of the ceiling limit shall, subject to the provisions of the Delhi Land Reforms Act, 
1954 (Delhi Act 8 of 1954), be treated as excess land of the transferee and the provisions of sections 6 to 
11 shall, as far as may be, apply to such excess land. 

13.  Excess  land  not  to  be  surrendered  in  certain  cases.―Where  a  person  representing  a  family 
holds land not exceeding the ceiling limit, but subsequently the land held exceeds the ceiling limit, then, 
notwithstanding  anything  contained  in  this  Chapter,  such  person  shall  not  be  required  to  surrender  any 
part of the land on the ground that it is excess land, if such excess is due to any improvements effected in 
the land by the efforts of the family or to a decrease in the number of its members. 

1. Subs. by Act 15 of 1976, s. 8, for “compensation” (w.e.f. 8-12-1975). 
2. Subs. by s. 8, ibid., for “the compensation” (w.e.f. 8-12-1975). 
3. The words “as compensation” omitted by s. 8, ibid. (w.e.f. 8-12-1975). 
4. The words “of compensation” omitted by s. 8, ibid. (w.e.f. 8-12-1975). 
5. Subs. by s. 9, ibid., for “compensation” (w.e.f. 8-12-1975). 

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14. Power of Deputy Commissioner to take possession of excess land.―After the publication of 
the list of excess land under sub-section (3) of section 9, and after demarcation in the prescribed manner 
of such land where necessary, the Deputy Commissioner may take possession of any excess land and may 
use or cause to be used such force as may be necessary for the purpose. 

15. Reservation of land for certain purposes.―The Chief Commissioner may reserve any excess 
land vesting in the Government under the provisions of this Act for the benefit of the village community 
or for any work of public utility or for such other purposes as may be prescribed: 

Provided  that  where  such  land  is  not  being  used  for  the  aforesaid  purposes,  it  may  be  used  by  the 

Gaon Panchayat for such purposes as the Chief Commissioner may direct. 

16.  Allotment  of  excess  land.―Subject  to  any  rules  that  may  be  made  in  this  behalf,  the  Chief 
Commissioner  or  any  officer  authorised  by  him  may  allot  any  excess  land  vesting  in  the  Government 
(other  than  land  reserved  under  section  15)  1[to  such  persons  (preference  being  given  to  landless 
agricultural labourers particularly those belonging to the Scheduled Castes or the Scheduled Tribes)] and 
on such terms and conditions as he thinks fit. 

CHAPTER III 

MISCELLANEOUS 

17. Act to override contract and other laws.―Save as otherwise expressly provided, the provisions 
of this Act shall have effect notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in any other law, custom 
or usage or agreement or decree or order of a court. 

18. Mode of recovery of any amount due under the Act.―Any sum payable to the Government 

under the provisions of this Act may be recovered in the same manner as an arrear of land revenue. 

19. Appeal.―Any person aggrieved by an order made by the competent authority under section 10, 
may,  within  a  period  of  thirty  days  from  the  date  of  the  order,  prefer  an  appeal  to  the  Deputy 
Commissioner: 

Provided that the Deputy Commissioner may entertain the appeal after the expiry of the said period, if 

he is satisfied that the appellant was prevented by sufficient cause from preferring the appeal in time. 

20.  Revision.―(1)  The  Chief  Commissioner  may,  on  an  application  for  revision  made  to  him  or 
otherwise,  call  for  the  record  of  any  proceeding  pending  before,  or  disposed  of  by,  the  competent 
authority  or  the  Deputy  Commissioner  or  any  officer  authorised  by  the  Chief  Commissioner  under                 
sub-section (2) of section 9. 

(2) No order varying the decision of the competent authority or the Deputy Commissioner or revising 
the list published under section 9 which prejudicially affects any person shall be made without giving him 
an opportunity of being heard. 

21. Power of officers while holding inquiries, etc. under the Act.―Any officer or authority while 
holding  an  inquiry  or  hearing  an  appeal  or  exercising  powers  of  revision  under  this  Act  shall  have  the 

1. Subs. by Act 15 of 1976, s. 10, for “to such persons” (w.e.f. 8-12-1975). 

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same  powers as are  vested  in a  civil court  under  the Code  of  Civil  Procedure, 1908  (5  of  1908),  when 
trying a suit, in respect of the following matters, namely:― 

(a) enforcing the attendance of any person and examining him on oath; 

(b) requiring the discovery and production of documents and material objects; 

(c) receiving evidence on affidavit; and 

(d) such other matters as may be prescribed. 

22. Entry upon land for purposes of survey, etc.―Subject to any conditions and restrictions that 
may  be  prescribed,  any  officer  entrusted  with  the  performance  of  any  duty  under  this  Act  may,  in  the 
discharge  of  such  duty,  enter  upon  and  survey  and take  measurement of any  land  and  do all  other  acts 
necessary for carrying out his duties under this Act. 

23.  Offences  and  penalties.―(1)  Whoever  being  bound  to  submit  a  return  under  section  4  fails 
without reasonable cause to do so, within the prescribed time, or submits a return which he knows or has 
reason to believe to be false, 1[shall be punishable with imprisonment for a term which may extend to six 
months and with fine which may extend to one thousand rupees]. 

(2)  Whoever  contravenes  any  lawful  order  made  under  this  Act  or  otherwise  obstructs  any  person 
from  lawfully  taking  possession  of  any  land  shall  be  punishable  with  fine  which  may  extend  to  one 
thousand rupees. 

24.  Finality  of  orders  and  bar  of  jurisdiction.―(1)  Subject  to  the  provisions  of  this  Act,  every 

order made under this Act shall be final. 

(2) No civil court shall have jurisdiction to entertain any suit or proceeding in so far as it relates to 
any  matter  which  the  competent  authority  or  the  Deputy  Commissioner is empowered  by  or under  this 
Act to decide. 

25. Protection of action taken under the Act.―No suit or other legal proceeding shall lie against 
the Government or any authority or officer in respect of anything which is in good faith done or intended 
to be done in pursuance of this Act or any rules or orders made thereunder. 

26.  [Power  to  exempt,  etc.]  Omitted  by  the  Delhi  Land  Holdings  (Ceiling)  Amendment  Act,                    

(15 of 1976), s. 12 (w.e.f. 8-12-1975). 

27. Power to make rules.―(1) The Chief Commissioner may, by notification in the Official Gazette, 

make rules for carrying out the purposes of this Act. 

(2)  In  particular,  and  without  prejudice  to  the  generality  of  the  foregoing  power,  such  rules  may 

provide for all or any of the following matters, namely:― 

(a) the form in which and the period within which a return under section 4 may be submitted; 

(b) the agency through which information under section 5 may be collected; 

(c) the manner of holding inquiries under this Act; 

(d)  the  matters  which  may  be  determined  by  the  compelent  authority  under  sub-section  (1)  of 

section 6 and the manner of determination of excess land under the Act; 

1. Subs. by Act 15 of 1976, s. 11, for “shall be punishable with fine which may extend to one thousand rupees” (w.e.f. 8-12-1975). 

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(e) the form in which a list under sub-section (3) of section 6 or sub-section (3) of section 9 may 

be prepared and the manner of publication of such list; 

(f) the period within which an application for restoration of excess land of an Asami may be made 

by the Bhumidhar; 

(g) the manner of apportionment of  1[amount] between the Bhumidhar and the Asami in respect 

of any excess land in the possession of the Asami; 

(h) the manner of determination of the net annual income of any excess land for the purposes of 

payment of 1[amount]; 

(i) the manner of assessment of market value of structures and buildings and the value of trees for 

the purpose of payment of 1[amount]; 

(j) the number of instalments in which  1[any amount] under this Act may be paid or recovered; 

and the period within which bonds may be redeemed; 

(k) the manner of demarcation of excess land; 

(l) the purposes for which land may be reserved under section 15; 

(m) the categories of persons to whom excess land may be allotted and the terms and conditions 

on which such allotment may be made; 

(n) the powers of a civil court which may be vested in any officer or authority holding an inquiry; 

(o)  the  conditions  and  restrictions  subject  to  which  an  officer  may  enter  upon  any  land  for  the 

purpose of survey and taking measurement; 

(p) the levy of fees in respect of any matter under this Act; 

(q) any other matter which has to be, or may be prescribed. 

 (3) Every rule made under this section shall be laid as soon as may be after it is made, before each 
House of Parliament while it is in session for a total period of thirty days  2[which may be comprised in 
one session or in two  or more successive sessions, and if, before the expiry of the session immediately 
following the session or the successive sessions aforesaid], both Houses agree in making any modification 
in the rule or both Houses agree that the rule should not be made, the rule shall thereafter have effect only 
in such modified form or be of no effect, as the case may be, so however that any such modification or 
annulment shall be without prejudice to the validity of anything previously done under that rule. 

28. [Amendment of the Delhi Land Reforms Act, 1954.] Rep. by the Repealing and Amending Act, 

1964 (52 of 1964), s. 2 and the First Schedule (w.e.f. 29-12-1964).  

1. Subs. by Act 15 of 1976, s. 13, for “compensation” (w.e.f. 8-12-1975). 
2. Subs. by s. 13, ibid., for “compensation” (w.e.f. 8-12-1975). 

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